This artist's illustration shows the Earth and our solar system's place in the Universe. Image Credit: Andrew Z. Colvin

The words solar system refer to the sun and all of the objects that travel around it -- planets, natural satellites such as the moon, asteroid belt, comets, and meteoroids. Our solar system is part of a spiral galaxy known as the Milky Way. The sun, the center of our solar system, holds eight planets and countless smaller objects in its orbit.

10 Need-to-Know Things About Our Solar System:

Our solar system is made up of the sun and everything that travels around it. This includes eight planets and their natural satellites such as Earth's moon; dwarf planets such as Pluto and Ceres; asteroids; comets and meteoroids.